Campuses warm up again

Our CU Correspondent reports: Classes were not held in science, commerce and social science faculties at Chittagong University for the third day on Thursday because CUTA continued its indefinite strike as the University Syndicate "ignored" its two-point demand.

A handful of teachers however took classes in Arabic and Islamic Studies departments in the Arts Faculty defying the CUTA decision.

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Scheduled examinations were not held due to the teachers' strike.

CUTA leaders led by its President Prof Dr. Nurul Anwar met Vice Chancellor Prof AJM Nuruddin Chowdury at his office on Thursday and urged him to fulfil their demands. Otherwise, the strike will continue, they told the VC, sources said.

The demands are cancellation of "illegal" promotion of Dr. Abu Tyeb Chowdhury, a Jamaat-e-Islami backed Associate Professor of Geography department and appointment of 57 teachers, allegedly made by defying Planning Committee recommendations.

The CUTA will take out a mourning rally in Chittagong city tomorrow protesting the grenade attack on the AL rally in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) continued their "indefinite siege" of the university for the fourth day on Thursday, protesting the grenade attack on Awami League rally in Dhaka.

CU shuttle trains carrying students could not ply as BCL activities put up barricade at Sholoshahar station in the morning.

However, teachers' buses plied as usual.

BCL also held a rally at the CU gate demanding resignation of the government.

Meanwhile, the Jatiyatabadi Teachers' Council (JTC), a forum of Chittagong University teachers' aligned to ruling BNP, condemned the grenade attack on AL.

The JTC in a statement Thursday evening also demanded punishment for those involved into the attack.

Signed by JTC president Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. M Shamsuddin and General Secretary Prof Dr. Hasan Mohammed, the statement said the attack is a conspiracy against independence of the country and democracy.

It also urged the government, political parties, professional bodies and people of all walks of life to unite to resist such attack.

Our JU Correspondent reports:

Teachers of Jahangirnagar University (JU) stayed away from classes on Thursday and held a rally protesting Saturday's grenade attack on AL rally in Dhaka.

All academic and administrative activities came to a halt all teachers and students supported the JUTA strike. Scheduled examinations were not held.

The scheduled beginning of first year honors classes of 2003-2004 academic session on August 28 has also become uncertain following the indefinite strike in all educational institution, called by Chhatra League, campus sources said.

Speakers at the rally criticised the government for its failure to curb crime and ensure security of life and property and also demanded international probe into the grenade attack

After the rally, the teachers, students, officials and employees brought out a procession on the campus.

The speakers also demanded resignation of the government for its failure.

The rally was addressed by, among others, JUTA President Prof Nasir Uddin Ahmad, General Secretary Prof Amir Hossain, Prof Rashid Harun and Asst Prof Mustafijur Rahman